After a summer of devastating wildfires, victims across France are beginning a long and complex process to seek compensation. Insurers have announced plans to provide 500 million euros in compensation for around 25,000 victims affected by the fires in regions such as Gironde, Landes, and Var. This amount is expected to rise as more damage assessments are completed. The fires burned through 119,000 hectares of land, potentially making 2026 the year with the highest area burned in France. For the tens of thousands of victims, the road to recovery is just beginning, with many facing lengthy and complicated insurance procedures. The fires had a wide impact, affecting both private individuals and businesses. Of the 25,000 cases, 21,000 relate to private property, while 3,000 are for professional businesses. Additionally, over 1,800 cases involve loss of income due to forced closures, such as camps in Gironde and other tourism-related businesses. In total, 30,000 residents were evacuated, and 200 homes and 60 commercial buildings were destroyed. In Biscarrosse, in the Landes region, a fire that raged from July 23 to July 30 burned through 3,600 hectares of forest. For many victims, the first step toward rebuilding is obtaining insurance compensation, a process that many describe as slow and complicated. Florence Guerro, a business leader and municipal councilor in Biscarrosse, suffered significant losses when two of her companies were destroyed in the fires. Her business, which specialized in public works and sanitation, lost equipment, vehicles, computers, and archives. "Everything was carbonized, burned. There really is nothing left at all," she said. Guerro estimates she has lost the equivalent of 1.5 million euros. Despite having resumed operations with rented equipment, she still lacks an office and restrooms. She described the insurance process as a "continuous battle," with experts evaluating each piece of equipment individually. "We are put back into this fire every day," she said, emphasizing the emotional and logistical challenges. To ease the burden on victims, insurers have implemented some exceptional measures, such as extending the deadline for reporting claims to August 31, compared to the usual five days. Relocation costs for those evacuated have also been covered, benefiting around 30,000 people. However, the process remains challenging due to the unique nature of fire insurance. Unlike floods or storms, which fall under the natural disaster regime, fire claims depend on specific fire guarantees in home insurance policies. This can lead to additional costs, such as a 5,000-euro franchise if the fire spread due to lack of clearing. Evaluations of property damage also take time, with estimates potentially taking weeks or months, leaving victims in uncertainty as they wait to plan their recovery.